UT Judge Drops Bombshell In Charlie Kirk Killer Case

A Utah judge has unsealed a federal ballistics report in the case against Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University—highlighting a key reality in gun investigations: ballistic evidence is not always definitive.

The newly released report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) states that examiners could not conclusively match a bullet fragment recovered during the investigation to the suspected murder weapon. However, the same report confirmed that a spent casing was fired from the rifle prosecutors allege Robinson used.

While these conclusions had been referenced previously in court, the unsealed document provides additional detail, including testing on a “deformed/damaged” bullet jacket fragment and four lead fragments.

The report was attached to a defense motion filed under seal on January 9, which sought to prevent further testing until a defense expert could review and document the evidence. Tony Graf ruled there was no justification to keep the filing sealed, noting it contained no “private or inflammatory information.”

An appendix in the report clarifies that an “inconclusive” result means “an examiner’s opinion that there is an insufficient quality and/or quantity of individual characteristics to identify or exclude.”

According to law enforcement sources cited by Fox News, the bullet could not be matched because it struck bone and fragmented on impact—something experts say is not unusual.

“It is not a win for the defense,” said Jason Pack. “It is simply a gap the prosecution is now working to address by bringing in the FBI with more advanced technology.”

He emphasized that ballistics are rarely the sole evidence in a homicide case and that the inconclusive finding applied only to the bullet fragment—not the casing or the rifle recovered near the scene.

“The defense here is doing exactly what good defense lawyers are supposed to do, protecting their client’s ability to challenge evidence before it gets further altered,” Pack said. “That is not a sign the prosecution’s case is weak.”

The ATF also examined a .30-06 cartridge case, determining it had been fired from the rifle identified as evidence—reportedly a Mauser belonging to Robinson’s grandfather.

“We are a long way from trial, and the public should pump the brakes before drawing big conclusions from a single pre-trial motion about a single bullet fragment,” Pack added.

Robinson is accused of fatally shooting Kirk during a Turning Point USA event in September 2025. Prosecutors allege he positioned himself on a rooftop across a courtyard and fired a single shot, striking Kirk in the neck in front of a crowd of about 3,000 people.

Additional evidence cited by prosecutors includes DNA consistent with Robinson’s found on the rifle, a towel, and three of the four rounds recovered. Investigators also reported impressions on a gravel rooftop consistent with someone lying prone in a sniper position.

Authorities say the rifle was later recovered in a wooded area near campus, wrapped in a blanket. Prosecutors further allege that text messages between Robinson and his romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, referenced retrieving the weapon.

“Stuck in Orem for a little while longer yet,” Robinson allegedly wrote after the incident. “Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still.”

Twiggs is cooperating with investigators and has not been charged.

Robinson is scheduled to appear in court Friday for a hearing on a motion to exclude cameras from future proceedings. He could face the death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder.